Hi am a newbie have a 2011 125i the catalytic converters were stolen 🤬 and now have to choose between replacement or as someone suggested install cat foolers, but my research shows it doesn't always work and i most probably have to do software. Any advice and recommendations am based in Cape Town
-
Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
technical Catalytic Converters Stolen
- Thread starter ZeeKay
- Start date
BeemerFanatic
Events Organiser
Add a downpipe with a mini cat fooler that goes onto the O2 sensor. No need for software. I had this setup on my F30 for years
BeemerFanatic
Events Organiser
This has been a theft item for a while now.
Teezoh
Well-known member
Reach out to Ashley @Xcede Performance , he will guide you on options.
r0ckf1re
Well-known member
Me too, tbh I’ve haven’t heard from anyone personally who’s got stolen. Are they things not a challenge to remove quickly ?
More info would be appreciated.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Seen the videos on YouTube where they use cordless angle grinders to remove it in the streets. But that was the uk
Sent from my SM-S908E using Tapatalk
MOE 000 GP
Active member
In SA it's not so easy lol you need a lift cause to get under and remove all those covers and to steal it you need to make sure the car is cold otherwise you will burn...I know there are some of these Fong Kong panelbeaters that remove them and take the cats out and put the pipe back in...we actually had a car that came from one of these corner shops that had his cats gutted by them..also beware of cars coming from auction houses we bought 2 salvages for parts and the entire cat was already stripped
TurboLlew
Honorary ///Member
The salvage businesses buying these are going to end up regulated like pawn shops I have sold cats off cars before after doing downpipes on them. They often give you more than the cost of the downpipes back in value. I can see how this is very lucrative and open to abuse. Big issue in the UK and US where people park outside overnight or don't have real security. However, it would not surprise me if people in SA didn't even realise they had been scammed and independent shops or panelbeaters were cutting out cats and replacing them with straight pipes. I say this because in SA, it doesn't seem many cars actually throw emissions lights in a hurry. It's been like this on Alfa, BMWs, Subarus and Hondas as well and even if they would, it would be worthwhile just doing the cat foolers as the salvage agents buy these no-questions-asked and for large enough amounts of money.
It's also how performance shops do those "R5000 for software and downpipe" specials... then come with stories about how they had to cut the flanges off your original so it was scrap... and use your cat as their actual profit
.
It's also how performance shops do those "R5000 for software and downpipe" specials... then come with stories about how they had to cut the flanges off your original so it was scrap... and use your cat as their actual profit
.I was parked for a few hours at a site in Malmesbury
